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For questions or information about this blog and other social media tools used by San Diego International Airport, contact:Steven Shultz, M.S.
Deputy Director, Public & Community Relations /
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority: sshultz@san.org

“One final beam. One bright future.” That was the memorable slogan on a large banner hanging over the final steel beam for The Green Build Terminal 2 expansion at San Diego International Airport yesterday, before it was lifted into place at a “Topping Out” ceremony attended by over 200 Airport Authority staff, construction workers, elected officials, community leaders and media.

There are several ways to get a taste of yesterday’s excitement if you didn’t happen to be there:

The Green Build is well under way at San Diego International Airport! I snapped this picture today that shows the construction site – and you can tell that the terminal expansion is certainly coming along. So exciting! Did you know that, in all, 5,000 tons of steel will go up to provide the structural framework for the terminal expansion?

And all the steel used in the construction comes from the United States, in support of the national economy. It starts out in the Midwest and is shaped in Arizona before coming to us in San Diego. It’s great to see The Green Build generating jobs for the regional economy … as well as pumping up an important national industry!

A two-month course hosted at the Airport Authority, TSCM helps prepare small and emerging local businesses to take on larger jobs. The courses are taught mainly by Turner’s senior management. It also includes an introduction to the programs offered by Small Business Development to help small and disadvantaged local businesses gain work at the airport. Finally, it provides a unique opportunity to network with other local contractors.

Jess says the course “created a new life experience.” He worked diligently to learn the ins and outs of working with the airport and successfully bid as a subcontractor to Turner/PCL/Flatiron Joint Venture, the contracting team for The Green Build. The bid package was part of Contract 1, which includes 10 new gates at Terminal 2 West, expanded dining and shopping options, and other terminal and airfield improvements.

Jess’ job was to remove, intact, several large pieces of glass on the west end of Terminal 2 West and install temporary partitions. To avoid any impact to SDIA passengers, work was conducted from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Jess also had to remove one of the airport’s largest art pieces, Sunlight Juxtaposed, a giant glass mosaic by Joan Irving. The art has been safely stored away and will return in 2013. Right now, if you head up the escalator to the TSA security lanes at the west end of Terminal 2 West, you’ll barely notice the huge partition now in place in the west wall.

Contract 1’s Project Director, Dan McGuckin, and Security Director, Scott MacDonald, both say Jess was a great team player, “working conscientiously and going the extra step.” He ensured that not just the art was kept safe, but that his crew went home safely at the end of each shift.

Jess plans to bid on more work – and both Turner/PCL/Flatiron and the Airport Authority hope he does!

To get a closer look at Jess’ work, check out the cool time-lapse video above.

by special guest Ambassablogger, Suzanne, of the Airport Authority’s Real Estate Management Department

An historic event took place at San Diego International Airport, starting on Friday, May 21, 2010! The Terminal 2 East pedestrian bridge was demolished as part of The Green Build airport expansion project (the bridge removal allows for construction of a convenient dual-level roadway in front of Terminal 2 West). Check out the cool time-lapse video above of the event, which actually spanned nearly 24 hours. (Thanks to Wayne from Major Video Productions for making the cool video!)

Rich Kaslik, a project manager for The Green Build, said the key to the operation was getting traffic off the internal roadway by designing a detour, shown in the planning schematic below:

The roadway directly in front of Terminal 2 East was closed to traffic at 10:15 p.m. Friday, and the detour was opened. But before any demo work could begin, two feet of dirt was laid atop the roadway to help break the fall of the pedestrian bridge.

The actual demolition lasted approximately seven hours, beginning at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22. Airport Authority contractor Kiewit & Sundt and its subcontractor, Miller Environmental, Inc., worked in concert to orchestrate the delicate removal of the bridge. The contractors had to work like synchronized swimmers in order to perfectly time the removal.

Special devices called hoe ram excavators strategically dissected the bridge to undermine the structure and columns, allowing for a controlled fall to the street. When it finally came down, Kaslik said with a smile in his voice, “It was a rush! You could feel the adrenaline pumping.”

Twelve laborious hours of cleanup followed, and shortly thereafter the roadway was reopened to traffic. Congratulations to The Green Build team on completing another huge milestone toward The Green Build opening in 2013!

Home Treat Alert: The mulitmedia feature above may not be accessible at work. But you can view the Ambassablog at home & check it out there.

Check out this cool new video showing the San Diego International Airport of tomorrow. With sleek computer animations and renderings, it gives a good, quick overview of The Green Build Terminal 2 expansion project, which will be open to the public in 2013.

Home Treat Alert: The mulitmedia feature above may not be accessible at work. But you can view the Ambassablog at home & check it out there.

To help travelers and airport visitors plan their travel to and from San Diego International Airport this weekend, the Airport Authority is informing the public and media about the following construction activity anticipated at and near the airport May 21-23, 2010.

City of San Diego work on Harbor Drive:

The City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department will be making connections to a new
water main installed as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program to replace old
water and sewer mains throughout the City. To accommodate the above work, for periods of time between the hours of 9 p.m. Saturday, May 22 and 9 a.m. Sunday, May 23:

The airport’s Cell Phone Parking Lot will be temporarily closed.

One of three lanes on eastbound Harbor Drive near Spanish Landing will be closed.

One of three lanes on westbound Harbor Drive near the Coast Guard Station will be closed.

Airport Roadway Detour in Front of Terminal 2:

Beginning Friday evening, May 21, a portion of the airport roadway directly in front of Terminal 2 East will be closed to prepare for demolition of the Terminal 2 East pedestrian bridge. Removal of the bridge is necessary for construction of the dual-level roadway in front of Terminal 2 West as part of The Green Build expansion project. To accommodate the above work, from Friday night (starting no later than 11 p.m., but possibly as early as 8 p.m., depending on traffic flow) through Sunday:

A minor detour will direct traffic around the demolition area.

The curb front around the demolition area will also be closed.

The detour will temporarily close the curb front in front of Terminal 2 East for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, but the curb front at Terminal 2 West will be available to accommodate passenger drop-offs and pick-ups.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, the above schedules may change. Travelers should plan ahead and allow extra time as it may take longer than usual to arrive, park, get to the terminal, check in and/or pick up passengers at the airport as a result of these activities.